The Vicar's Letter for March A Lenten meditation

Jesus’ journey does lead to suffering, but there is hope. New Testament writers suggest that his suffering brings us healing: a transaction does take place. For example, Jesus experiences our sin and we receive God’s forgiveness. In Peter’s first letter (ch.2 vs.24) he writes, ‘by Jesus’ wounds, we are healed’. Those wounds are physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual. Because he fully experiences all that we experience as humans, his empathy carries the power to heal us.

He also suffered the wound of humiliation. In Acts 8:32* the author of Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles relates the famous Suffering Servant passage of Isaiah 53 to refer to Jesus:

*‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
  and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
  so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
  Who can describe his generation?
  For his life is taken away from the earth.’

What does it feel like to experience humiliation? Probably most of us have experienced times when others have belittled us, perhaps as a device to seek power over us. It feels profoundly uncomfortable and even threatening. Psychologists suggest that humiliation is used by people to get the targeted person to internalise a negative view of themselves. An internalised negative view is disempowering, and we curl up inside.

As Jesus journeys towards the Cross he encounters the ‘device’ of humiliation time and again, and with increasing severity. It culminates on Good Friday in the physically demeaning humiliation of being stripped naked, mocked, beaten and tortured. How is it that this wound of humiliation can transfer to our healing?

Peter writes in 1 Peter ch.2 that Jesus’ wound of humiliation can become a source of divine healing through our trust in him (note the last line).

4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen
and precious in God’s sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built
 into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in scripture:
‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
  a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’

Jesus has ‘faced into’ the worst of all that can happen to a human being. He endured it with love, taking it to the cross and neutralizing its power. This love is offered to us as we open ourselves to His Spirit. This is real power. His presence is like a warm balm mending our broken hearts, rooting us in a love that is stronger than death.

May we journey along together and please do join us for our Lent course on Tuesdays in the vicarage at 7.00pm